Asthma TMC Practice Questions Vector

Asthma Sample TMC Practice Questions (2025)

by | Updated: Feb 4, 2025

Asthma is one of the most common chronic respiratory conditions, making it a crucial topic for respiratory therapists and a frequent focus on the TMC Exam.

This condition is characterized by reversible airway obstruction, inflammation, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness, often triggered by allergens, exercise, or infections.

This article provides a collection of asthma-focused TMC practice questions to help you refine your knowledge and confidently prepare for this essential topic.

Note: We didn’t include the correct answers on this page to give you the opportunity to test your knowledge. If you want the correct answers along with detailed explanations, you can get access using the link below.

Practice Quiz
Asthma TMC Practice Questions

Access our quiz that includes sample TMC practice questions and detailed explanations to master the key concepts of asthma.

What is Asthma?

Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition characterized by airway inflammation, hyperresponsiveness, and reversible airflow obstruction, leading to symptoms like wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. It is often triggered by allergens, exercise, infections, or environmental factors.

Asthma is an important topic for the TMC/CSE exams because it is a common condition that requires precise assessment and management by respiratory therapists. Key areas include understanding its pathophysiology, recognizing symptoms, and knowing treatment protocols such as bronchodilators, corticosteroids, and patient education.

The board exams test this knowledge to ensure that you can provide effective care, including handling acute exacerbations and long-term management plans for improved patient outcomes.

Asthma TMC Practice Questions

1. While reviewing the medical record of a 55-year-old female patient, you observe that her FEV1/FVC ratio is significantly decreased. Based on this finding, which of the following conditions is most likely present?
A. Pulmonary hypertension
B. Morbid obesity
C. Chronic asthma
D. Pneumonia

2. A 21-year-old female patient presents to the emergency department with an acute asthma exacerbation and is experiencing moderate to severe dyspnea. Which of the following medications would you recommend for nebulized administration?
A. Montelukast
B. Beclomethasone
C. Magnesium sulfate
D. Metaproterenol

3. A 6-year-old girl is brought to the emergency department with dyspnea and bilateral wheezing. Which of the following would you recommend as the initial treatment?
A. Furosemide (Lasix)
B. Rigid bronchoscopy
C. Aerosolized albuterol
D. Aerosolized Pulmicort

4. During the evaluation of an adult patient with chronic asthma, the following pulmonary function test results are observed: SVC of 3,500 mL; FVC of 2,500 mL. What is the most likely explanation for the difference between these two values?
A. Increased compliance during a forced expiration
B. Poor instruction by the previous respiratory therapist
C. Muscle fatigue during a forced expiration
D. Air trapping during a forced exhalation

5. An adult patient undergoing a mild asthma attack was admitted to the ER. Which of the following ABG results would you expect to see?
A. pH = 7.30 PaCO2 = 49 torr PaO2 = 61 torr
B. pH = 7.32 PaCO2 = 51 torr PaO2 = 51 torr
C. pH = 7.46 PaCO2 = 47 torr PaO2 = 52 torr
D. pH = 7.49 PaCO2 = 30 torr PaO2 = 62 torr

6. A 15-year-old male patient with a history of asthma needs a medication to help prevent future asthma attacks. Which of the following drugs would not be appropriate for this purpose?
A. Cromolyn sodium
B. Zafirlukast
C. Epinephrine
D. Zileuton

7. An adult patient presents to the emergency department in respiratory distress with diminished breath sounds. The patient has a history of asthma. After receiving continuous bronchodilator therapy, wheezing is now audible during auscultation. What does this change most likely indicate?
A. The onset of pneumonia
B. The development of a pneumothorax
C. The improvement of air flow
D. The development of pulmonary edema

8. A 22-year-old female patient arrives at the emergency department experiencing acute bronchospasm with significant wheezing and difficulty breathing. She has a history of asthma but no other major comorbidities. Which of the following medications would be the most appropriate to administer at this time?
A. Albuterol (Proventil)
B. Racemic epinephrine
C. Cromolyn sodium (Intal)
D. Acetylcysteine (Mucomyst)

9. A 2-year-old girl is experiencing a severe asthma attack, and the physician has prescribed a short-acting bronchodilator that can be delivered via either a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) or a small-volume nebulizer (SVN). Which delivery method would be most appropriate for this patient?
A. An SVN using the “blow by” technique
B. An MDI with a holding chamber and mask
C. A small volume nebulizer with a mouthpiece
D. A breath-actuated MDI with a mask

10. A 41-year-old female presents with wheezing and symptoms suggestive of asthma, though the diagnosis has not yet been confirmed. Which of the following diagnostic tests would be the most appropriate to confirm asthma?
A. Airway resistance
B. Flow-volume loop
C. Bronchoprovocation study
D. Pre-and-post bronchodilator study

11. A 26-year-old female patient presents to the emergency department with severe dyspnea, accessory muscle use, and wheezing. Her condition is diagnosed as status asthmaticus, an acute exacerbation of asthma unresponsive to initial treatment. The physician orders nebulized therapy to provide immediate relief. Which of the following medications would you recommend?
A. Levalbuterol
B. Montelukast
C. Beclomethasone
D. Magnesium sulfate

12. An 8-year-old female with a history of asthma has been prescribed Proventil (albuterol) via MDI for home use to manage acute symptoms. During the patient’s follow-up visit, her parent reports difficulty ensuring the child is using the inhaler properly. Which of the following would you recommend to improve medication delivery and ensure proper technique?
A. Add a spacer or holding chamber to the MDI
B. Remove the mouthpiece from the MDI
C. Have the child inhale as quickly as possible
D. Switch from an MDI to a DPI

13. A 50-year-old male patient is admitted to the hospital for asthma management. During the medication history review, the respiratory therapist gathers details about the patient’s asthma treatment regimen. Which of the following factors is the least critical to address during this assessment?
A. Self-administration techniques
B. Frequency of rescue inhaler usage
C. Use of generic vs. brand name medications
D. Patient understanding of controllers vs. relievers

14. You are called to administer a STAT bronchodilator treatment for a male patient experiencing a severe asthma attack. While reviewing the physician’s written order, you notice that the dosage is unclear and could be interpreted as either “5 mL of albuterol” or “0.5 mL of albuterol.” The prescribing physician is currently attending to a critical code and cannot clarify the order. How should you proceed?
A. Have the nurse review the note to clarify the order
B. Cross out the prohibited notations and initial and date the changes
C. Wait until the physician is done with the code so that you can clarify the improper notation and the correct order
D. Administer the treatment using the standard albuterol dosage of 0.5 mL and clarify the order as soon as possible thereafter

15. A 51-year-old male patient with asthma has been prescribed an albuterol breathing treatment via small-volume nebulizer to manage acute symptoms. Upon reviewing the patient’s chart, you note severe hypertension and a history of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). Which of the following actions should you take before initiating therapy?
A. Provide acetylcysteine instead of albuterol
B. Dilute the albuterol with extra saline
C. Postpone the treatment and consult the physician
D. Administer the treatment as ordered

16. A female patient experiencing an acute asthma attack was administered an adrenergic bronchodilator to relieve her symptoms. However, her condition appears to have worsened following the treatment, with increased airway obstruction and heightened respiratory distress. Which of the following is the most likely explanation for this adverse reaction?
A. A paradoxical response to the agent
B. Tachyphylaxis or tolerance to the agent
C. Alterations in the V/Q ratio
D. The additive effect of other drug agents

17. A 29-year-old female patient with suspected asthma has been referred for pulmonary function testing to confirm the diagnosis. Several diagnostic tests are being considered. Which of the following would be least helpful in determining whether the patient has asthma?
A. Lung diffusion study
B. Flow-volume loop
C. Bronchoprovocation testing
D. Pre- and post-bronchodilator testing

18. Exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) measurement is a diagnostic tool used in respiratory care. For which of the following clinical purposes is exhaled nitric oxide testing most commonly indicated?
A. Treating refractory hypoxemia
B. Titrating asthma drugs and dosages
C. Treating pulmonary hypertension
D. Assessing the presence of air trapping

19. You are preparing to perform a methacholine challenge test on an adult patient who is suspected of having asthma. This test evaluates airway hyperreactivity by measuring the patient’s response to inhaled methacholine. During the procedure, the patient’s FEV1 is monitored after each dose of methacholine. What percentage decrease in FEV1 must occur to conclude that the test is positive for airway hyperreactivity?
A. 10%
B. 15%
C. 20%
D. 25%

20. A 52-year-old female patient undergoes spirometry testing to assess her pulmonary function. Spirometry is performed before and after administering a bronchodilator. Her FEV1 increases from 62% to 83% of her predicted value after the bronchodilator is given. Based on these results, which of the following conclusions can be made?
A. The patient has a fixed airway obstruction
B. The patient has a normal diffusion capacity
C. The patient has a reversible airway obstruction
D. The patient has a restrictive lung disease

21. As a respiratory therapist, you are tasked with reviewing patients’ eligibility for an annual influenza vaccination. Which of the following patients would you recommend receive the flu shot based on current guidelines?
A. A 21-year-old female with asthma
B. A 5-month-old infant
C. A 65-year-old male with Guillain-Barré syndrome
D. A 25-year-old pregnant female patient

22. A 3-year-old boy is brought to the emergency room in respiratory distress due to an asthma attack. The attending physician orders immediate management of the condition. Which of the following medications is NOT recommended for initial treatment in this scenario?
A. Epinephrine
B. Albuterol (Proventil)
C. Terbutaline (Brethaire)
D. Cromolyn sodium (Intal)

23. A 33-year-old female patient presents to the emergency department in the early stages of an asthma attack. She reports increasing difficulty breathing and a tight feeling in her chest. Upon initial assessment, which of the following findings would you most likely expect in this patient?
A. Respiratory alkalosis
B. Moderate hypoxemia
C. Decreased expiratory flow rates
D. No response to beta-adrenergic medications

24. A 42-year-old female patient has been experiencing persistent dyspnea and wheezing for the past 24 hours. Despite receiving bronchodilator therapy, her symptoms have not improved. On examination, she exhibits signs of respiratory distress, including the use of accessory muscles and difficulty speaking in full sentences. Based on this clinical presentation, which of the following conditions best describes her current state?
A. Chronic bronchitis
B. Status asthmaticus
C. Pulmonary embolism
D. Emphysema

25. A 47-year-old female patient has been admitted to the hospital for an acute asthma attack. She is currently being treated with bronchodilator medications and oxygen therapy. Her ABG results show a PaCO2 of 50 mmHg and a pH of 7.27, indicating respiratory acidosis. Although the patient appears anxious, she remains alert and cooperative. Based on this information, which of the following actions would you recommend?
A. Administer nebulized corticosteroids
B. Administer a CNS respiratory depressant
C. Intubate and provide mechanical ventilation
D. Maintain their current therapy and continue to monitor closely

Practice Quiz
Asthma TMC Practice Questions

Access our quiz that includes sample TMC practice questions and detailed explanations to master the key concepts of asthma.

Final Thoughts

Asthma management is a core competency for respiratory therapists, making it an important subject for the TMC Exam. The practice questions in this article are designed to strengthen your understanding of asthma’s pathophysiology, diagnostic methods, and treatment strategies.

Consistent practice will not only boost your confidence on exam day but also ensure you’re well-prepared to provide effective care to patients with asthma.

For more helpful strategies and premium study resources designed to simplify your preparation for the TMC and CSE exams, consider getting access to our TMC/CSE Bundle.

John Landry, BS, RRT

Written by:

John Landry, BS, RRT

John Landry is a registered respiratory therapist from Memphis, TN, and has a bachelor's degree in kinesiology. He enjoys using evidence-based research to help others breathe easier and live a healthier life.